FC Barcelona fell clearly during their visit to Signal Iduna Park. The blaugrana team was outplayed by Borussia Dortmund in a match that left more shadows than lights. The final score, a 3-1 that faithfully reflected what was seen on the field, served for Hansi Flick to draw some very relevant conclusions.
One of them was immediate and emphatic: Pedri González is absolutely untouchable. The Canary Islander did not participate in the match, and his absence was more than noticeable. The German coach, who already considers him a basic piece in his project, is even more convinced after this painful defeat.
The match served to expose the shortcomings of the Barça team when the footballer from Tegueste is not on the field. The control of the game, the pause in key moments, and the quality in decision-making vanished. Barça's midfield was easily dominated by the Germans, who took advantage of every mismatch to cause damage.
Pedri, the Silent Engine of Barça
The importance of Pedri goes far beyond what statistics show; with him on the field, the team gains balance, judgment, and personality. When he's not there, as happened in Dortmund, mistakes multiply, and the opponent notices. Flick knows this, and the match in Germany has been the definitive confirmation of a feeling he already had.
The German coach, in this season as FC Barcelona's manager, one of his first decisive decisions was never to do without the Canary Island midfielder. In fact, since his arrival, he has already conveyed to the sports management that Pedri's health and performance must be taken care of to the maximum. He knows that much of the team's soccer revolves around him.
A Warning for the Rest of the Team
At just 21 years old, Pedri has earned the respect of coaches, teammates, and rivals. His soccer maturity, his reading of the game, and his influence on the collective are on another level. It's no coincidence that figures like Xavi Hernández or Luis Enrique considered him indispensable, and Flick now also joins that list.
The defeat against Dortmund leaves Barça shaken, but it also offers an opportunity to adjust pieces. The German coach has seen firsthand who responds in high-demand matches... and who doesn't. Several individual performances left much to be desired, especially in the midfield and defense.
Pedri's figure rises like a beacon in the middle of the storm; his absence was the great difference in a team without ideas, without rhythm, and without leadership. Flick has taken good note, and barring injury, the Canary Islander will be indisputable in every important match. Barça is already preparing for their next commitment with the hope of recovering their most influential player, because if anything has become clear in Dortmund, it's the importance of the Canary Islander.